If Halloween Is Fading, Day of the Dead Is Rising

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal Rio Rancho section 11/7/09

Having put Halloween in the rear view mirror, I have to say the steady stream of trick-or-treaters at my front door last Saturday night was more like a trickle. And that goes for what I saw on the street as well.

Where were all the little ghosts and goblins? While trick-or-treating with my youngest daughter and our usual group of friends, it was quite obvious that the numerous decorated houses with multiple jack-o'-lanterns, spider webs and 2D witches clinging to the trees in years past were few and far between. In their place were deliberately dark porches, sans decorations.

I am not alone in this observation; my friend Dave in Florida said this was the first Halloween that he had candy left over.

As I called dibs on his remaining fun-size Almond Joys, a sense of sadness came over me. Is the act of going house-to-house begging for candy on Oct. 31 becoming a thing of the past, like pet rocks, Red Ball Jet sneakers and disco?

Life has changed dramatically in the last 30 years, and the world isn't as safe as it once was.

But where there is a yin, there is a yang. Whereas Halloween may be losing its popularity, another timely tradition continues to become more prominent every year.

Day of the Dead is a Mexican and Mexican-American celebration of deceased ancestors that occurs on Nov. 1 and 2 and coincides with the similar Roman Catholic celebrations of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

Day of the Dead celebrations are gaining in popularity, proven by the many parades and parties that now take place about this time every year. Many artists find this spiritual celebration captivating and that's reflected in their highly whimsical and colorful art that is found at craft shows, gift shops and museums.

This weekend you will find a plethora of folk art commemorating Day of the Dead at the Arte de Muertos Expo at the Santa Ana Star Casino.

Hank Estrada is the creative energy behind Arte de Muertos Productions, and although the event is relatively new, it's already a sellout.

"Just within its first year, the Expo has grown to become New Mexico's largest assemblage of Day of the Dead artists ever," Estrada said. "Our artists come from all over the state. We have now even attracted artists from the neighboring states of Texas, Arizona, Colorado and old Mexico."

I attended their summer event and ended up spending more than I had planned on a couple of folk art pieces that were not Day of the Dead-inspired.

"We pride ourselves in featuring both traditional and contemporary examples of art," Estrada said. "Among this year's Expo, artists will be representing the art forms of papier mache, carpentry, glass, jewelry, masks, mixed media, feather craft, and even a local woman who makes authentic coffins," gleamed Estrada.

I saw this craftswoman at the July event, and if you can get over the shock of seeing coffins at an arts and crafts fair, the artwork is really beautiful.

One of my favorite authors, Antonio Garcez, will be at the Expo today signing his collection of ghost story books including his latest book, "Colorado Ghost Stories."

"The Expo has a great atmosphere, a real sense of family and fiesta," Estrada said. "We have lots of music, and today, we have numerologists, Ouija board psychics and tarot card readers."

Honor your ancestors or just get a jump on your holiday shopping and check out the Arte de Muertos Expo today or tomorrow. I'll be the one with the skull-painted face with too many shopping bags to carry.

Quote of the Week: "The past is a source of knowledge, and the future is a source of hope. Love of the past implies faith in the future." — Stephen Ambrose, historian, 1936-2002

Some Candy Little Ghosts Won't Touch

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal Rio Rancho section 10/31/09

I hope everyone survived last night's pranks during Devil's Night, or as they say in the north, Gate Night, and no one has to clean eggs off of their windows or smashed pumpkins off of their front walks. With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, I can only imagine how many parties filled the night. My loyal readers may remember last year's Halloween column, in which I explored the truth about what your costume says about you. So, all you French maids, Tarzans and witches, we know what you are really trying to tell us.

Besides pumpkins, costumes and pranks, the most important part of Halloween has to be the candy, and we all know it. Haven't we all sneaked Mounds bars and Almond Joys from our children's stash when they weren't looking?

Yes, Halloween begins that time period that goes through Jan. 2 when temptations like candy, stuffing, pumpkin pies, Christmas cookies, pecan pies and champagne are ever present and our willpower is put to the test.

I thought one's sweet tooth is supposed to subside as one gets older and mine has, to some extent. But there is just some candy I still cling to. Huffingtonpost.com has come out with "The Nine Grossest Kinds of Candy No Adult Should Give out on Halloween," and I take issue with some of them.

In clarifying their study, they mean gross as in "no one wants to eat them" not gross as in, "I can't believe I let my child put that in their body." The article goes on to say that Pixie Stix are gross in the latter sense but kids love them, so they didn't make the list. Here are the ones that did:

• Wax Bottle Candy: Just bite off the top and suck out the artificially colored and flavored water sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, then chew on the wax for the rest of the afternoon. Sold by the pound on amazon.com, I don't see a problem here.

• Necco Wafers: A roll of flavored, multi-colored wafers that some may say have a chalky taste and texture, (much like original Tums, but thinner). Who cares? These babies are fat-free.


• Pumpkin Candy Corn. This one I have to agree with. The pumpkin shapes are too much for one bite and tend to stimulate the gag reflex.


• Fruit-Flavored Tootsie Rolls: I agree with this one. You don't mess with the original.


• Circus Peanuts. This one hits too close to home. I will agree Circus Peanuts have an indistinguishable chemical and/or paint aroma, which is really sugar, corn syrup, coconut, gelatin, salt and artificial flavors. I have yet to outgrow this one.


• Bit-O-Honey. I never liked this one — not so much for the flavor as it was just a boring piece of candy. A conservative, tan-colored piece of taffy with crushed almonds just says yawn.

• Root Beer Barrels: I am just stupefied about why Root Beer Barrels made this list. This is one of the best candies ever. I dare anyone to e-mail me and tell me you don't like Root Beer Barrels. Nobody can eat just one.

• Gumdrops: Or dare they call them "spice drops," this old standby really should be relegated to grandmother's candy drawer and gingerbread houses only.

• Sesame Crunch: I have to admit this is one candy I have never tried, nor do I want to. Peanut butter, honey, corn flakes and sesame seeds just sounds too healthy.

It's Halloween, and I hope everyone has a safe and happy day, and may you get all the candy you every wanted.

Quote of the Week: "But Charlie, don't forget what happened to the man who suddenly got everything he always wanted. He lived happily ever after." — Willy Wonka.